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The Rev. Peter T. Vanderveen
Rector
610-525-2486 ext. 17
pvanderveen@theredeemer.org
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Peter T. Vanderveen was the rector of Saint Ann’s Church, Old Lyme, Connecticut for fourteen years. Prior to this call, he served parishes as an assistant rector in Chatham, Massachusetts, and as a curate in Branford, Connecticut. Born in 1961, Peter was raised in Michigan, educated in schools operated by the Christian Reformed Church, and his family attended worship at the United Church of Christ (Congregational, or UCC). While he was in graduate school seeking a Masters of Divinity degree, he was hired as a singer in an Episcopal parish. Within the year, he was confirmed as an Episcopalian and soon began the ordination process within the Diocese of Connecticut. Peter received his bachelor’s degree from Calvin College in Michigan with a major in philosophy, and holds an M. Div. from Berkeley Divinity School at Yale. He is an avid reader in both philosophy and theology, and believes parishes should demand, as they deserve, leaders who are committed to a deeply thoughtful exposition of Christian faith and life.
Within the Diocese of Connecticut, Peter served for six years on the Board of Directors of the Episcopal Church at Yale (ECY). He is an instructor in philosophical theology for the Ministry Exploration and Education Program, which is a concentrated, two-year preparatory course of study for persons considering ordained ministry. He teaches systematic theology for those in training for the vocational deaconate. At the national church level, Peter is a reader for the General Board of Examining Chaplains.
Peter is married to Patricia Bennett, a journalist, former ECY board member, and adjunct professor in media history at Quinnipiac University in New Haven. They have two adult daughters who reside in Boston. The elder, Roysin Bennett Younkin, is an architectural historian. Their younger daughter, Alexis, is a graduate student in interior design.
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The Rev. Beth W. Hixon
Associate Rector
610-525-2486 ext. 13
bhixon@theredeemer.org
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The Rev. Beth Hixon comes to Church of the Redeemer after serving for eight years as Associate Rector at The Church of St. Martin-in-the-Fields in Chestnut Hill. While there, in addition to providing liturgical leadership and pastoral care oversight, she worked with lay leaders to establish a thriving one-to-one pastoral care ministry (a “Stephen Ministry”). She also initiated and led medical mission teams in 2008 and 2009 that worked with and served indigenous Mayans living in remote agrarian villages in the northwestern highlands of Guatemala. The Companion Diocese Committee of the Diocese of Pennsylvania is currently building upon the work of this team as it develops a primary prevention “Water-for-Life Program” in partnership with the Diocese of Guatemala.
Beth attended The General Theological Seminary in New York City in the mid 1990’s. In addition to core seminary studies, she completed a significant amount of coursework at the General’s Center for Christian Spirituality with a concentration in the practice of spiritual direction. Prior to seminary, Beth practiced as a clinical nurse specialist providing individual, group and family psychotherapy for children, adolescents, and adults in a variety of mental health settings. She also held a position for four years as Assistant Professor of Nursing at Jacksonville University with primary responsibility for psychiatric / mental health theoretical and clinical instruction along with service as a clinical instructor in geriatrics, pediatrics and the fundamentals of nursing science. Beth earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in nursing from the University of Florida in the 1970’s and practiced for two and a half years, prior to her specialization in psychiatry, as a surgical intensive care nurse at Shands Teaching Hospital in Gainesville, Florida where her special interest was the immediate post-operative stabilization and care of children and adults who had undergone open heart surgeries of all kinds as well as the care of their families.
Beth has been married to William S. Hixon (Bill), an MAI commercial real estate appraiser, for nearly 35 years. Together they have raised a son who lives in Atlantic Beach, Florida and a daughter who lives nearby in Lansdale.
Beth’s passion for ministry is grounded in her love of God in Christ and is continuously shaped and deepened by her commitment to the Baptismal Covenant (Book of Common Prayer, p. 304-5) and ordination vows (Book of Common Prayer, 531-2). In addition to her love of liturgical design and leadership, Beth’s special areas of interest and her ministerial focus at the Redeemer are the pastoral care of adults, children and families and Christian formation across the life span with a concentration on adult spiritual formation. Her diocesan work includes service on the Companion Diocese Committee and leadership of the reconciliation team of the Diocesan Mission Planning Commission.
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The Rev. Melissa Q. Wilcox
Assistant Rector
610-525-2486 ext. 16
mwilcox@theredeemer.org
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The Rev. Melissa Q. Wilcox was born and raised in Connecticut and is a fourth generation Episcopal priest--but the first woman in her family to take Holy Orders. She graduated Phi Beta Kappa from ColbyCollege. Upon graduation she served as a Volunteer for Mission through the National Episcopal Church in Ngara, Tanzania. Melissa lived and worked as the diocesan youth coordinator in a region which was heavily affected by the Rwandan Civil War and refugee crisis. While living in Tanzania, she felt the call to go to Seminary and pursue ordination.
Melissa attended Virginia Theological Seminary where she was president of the Mission Society and was nominated by the Seminary to serve as a personal research assistant to the Archbishop of Canterbury. At VTS, Melissa met her husband, the Rev. Adam Kradel. They were married in 2001 and moved to Wisconsin where he pursued his PhD. Melissa has served at two parishes in the Midwest. The first one was Church of the Holy Comforter in Kenilworth, Illinois. The second parish was St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in Madison, Wisconsin. Most of her tenure as a priest, however, was spent doing campus ministry. Melissa was the chaplain to the Episcopal Campus Ministry at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She was also called upon to serve on the Commission on Ministry and served on the Provincial Campus Ministry Team. She also spearheaded a 20's and 30's national gathering for Episcopal Clergy.
Melissa loves preaching. She has had three sermons published in Sermons that Work. She has also served on the clergy staff for the Preaching Excellence Program. She believes that the liturgy and the spoken Word can always teach, transform, and transfigure.
Melissa is delighted to be returning to parish ministry and campus ministry and feels that her vocation as a mother and a priest are helpful in bringing others closer in their relationship to God. Melissa is married to the Rev. Adam Kradel, PhD, rector of ChristChurch, Media. They are raising three lively kids there--Elias (5), Adelaide, (3), and baby Josiah. She writes regularly on her blog Kradelkids which “helps me to find God in the midst of the chaos of raising young children.”
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Michael Diorio
Organist/Director of Music
610-525-2486 ext. 22
mdiorio@theredeemer.org
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As an active recitalist, Dr. Diorio has performed extensively throughout the United States as well as in England, Germany, France, and Austria where he was presented with a citation by the Mayor of Innsbruck for an outstanding public performance at the Jesuiten Kirche. Recent playing engagements include the Strasbourg Cathedral in France, Salisbury Cathedral, Wells Cathedral and Chichester Cathedral; other concerts with the American Boy Choir, and the National Convention of the Organ Historical Society.
A New Jersey native, Michael Diorio received his Bachelor of Music degree in organ performance from Westminster Choir College in Princeton, while studying under Professor Eugene Roan. Upon completing his undergraduate study he entered the Institute of Sacred Music and the School of Music at Yale University, where he earned his Master of Music degree in organ with Dr. Martin Jean. While at Boston University Dr. Diorio was a pupil of organist James David Christie, where he received the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in organ performance, summa cum laude. His edition of the Messa Hyemalis in A of Franz Xaver Richter (1709-1789) is published by the German firm Carus-Verlag of Stuttgart. The edition received its American premier at St. Thomas Church, Fifth Avenue by John Scott and the St. Thomas Choir of Men & Boys, and its European premier at the Strasbourg Cathedral in France, where Richter served as Kapellmeister from 1768-1789.
Presently, Michael serves as Organist & Director of Music at Church of the Redeemer, Bryn Mawr where he oversees a comprehensive choral and music program. Michael also serves as a full-time faculty member at The Shipley School (Bryn Mawr), where he is Director of Choral Activities and music teacher for the Upper School. Previous positions include Washington Memorial Chapel, Valley Forge, and the Episcopal Cathedral of New Jersey, in Trenton. For five years Michael served at The Lawrenceville School, where he taught classes, private instrumental lessons and served as the school organist.
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Jay Einspanier
Parish Administrator
610-525-2486 ext. 21
jay@theredeemer.org
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Jay joined the staff at Church of the Redeemer in August of 2007. Prior to his arrival, he served as a business executive with more than 30 years’ experience in both large corporate settings and small start-up divisions. With a background in operations and marketing, he has led service delivery teams, developed and managed national accounts, and has built a national sales group. He describes himself as “an entrepreneurial individual with strong strategic planning skills and the ability to work effectively across organizational lines.” Jay earned a Bachelor of Civil Engineering from Georgia Tech and an MBA from Wharton; he has worked in the health care service industry, as a management consultant, and spent 13 years with the Aramark Corporation in a variety of executive positions. He has served since 2003 as an adjunct faculty member at Villanova University, teaching graduate level marketing courses. Jay and his family are active parishioners at St. Katharine of Siena Roman Catholic Church in Wayne.
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Ken Garner
Director of Communications & Stewardship
610-525-2486 ext. 19
ken@theredeemer.org
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Ken came to us in July 2004 from St. Paul’s Church in Chestnut Hill, where he served for many years as Parish Administrator. Ken has long experience in non-profit administration and development. He both created and initiated the ministries in this new position, through a generous anonymous donation to further the implementation of our strategic plan. Ken is primarily responsible for the oversight of all parish communications (publications, service media, website, publicity) and works closely with the Stewardship Committee, the vestry, and the rector to deepen and strengthen our understanding of stewardship and increase parish giving.
Ken is also an accomplished professional singer and he is a long-time member of the all-professional The Philadelphia Singers. He also appears regularly as soloist with regional performing ensembles and recently soloed with The Philadelphia Orchestra. Ken lives in Philadelphia with his long-time partner (since 1980) Bob Mikrut who is a costume designer/constructor and is Verger here at The Redeemer and a Fellow of the Vergers Guild of the Episcopal Church. Ken & Bob share their lives with two wonderful golden retrievers: Lucy and Molly.
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Denise Gibbone
Bookkeeper
610-525-2486 ext. 11
denise@theredeemer.org
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Denise joined the staff as Bookkeeper in June 1990. As Bookkeeper, Denise is responsible for the day to day operations of the Financial Department. Before coming to The Redeemer, she worked as a Bank Manager and freelance Bookkeeper.
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Tory Kline
Director of Children's Ministries
610-525-2486 ext. 20
tkline@theredeemer.org
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Tory is a graduate of Eastern College in Wayne and is presently seeking a Masters of Divinity degree from Palmer Theological Seminary. Her own vocational desire is to work specifically with children in ministry. Since her graduation from college she has worked for the Philadelphia Please Touch Museum and the Delaware Children’s Museum. Her experiences there have given her keen insight into how children learn and play together, and through her work as a staff member she has become articulate and able in program management and development. In addition, she knows our children and program well, having served for the past year here as an assistant in catechesis.
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Gillian Lancaster
Program Assistant
610-525-2486 ext. 14
glancaster@theredeemer.org
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Gillian has been working at Church of the Redeemer since July 2009. Originally trained as a classroom music teacher, she taught in England for several years. She arrived in America in July 1988 with her family, and lived on the Gulf Coast of Florida where they reveled in playing on the white sandy beaches and eating Southern food. They moved to New Jersey in 1993, and after working for the Girl Scouts for several years, Gillian then worked and sang at Trinity Church, Princeton.
Gillian moved to the Philadelphia area in 2004 to attend the University of Pennsylvania for her Masters Degree and graphic design qualification. While doing so she worked part time at Philadelphia Cathedral, creating service leaflets and sang for a Roman Catholic Church in Narberth.
After graduating in 2007 she began building her graphic design business, Gillian Lancaster Design, and in the process of seeking new clients was offered the position of Program Assistant at Redeemer. Here she creates collateral materials, some Sunday service leaflets, and also materials for baptisms, funerals and weddings. She is also mastering the intricacies of the church database. In January 2010 Gillian became the assistant to the Capital Campaign, for which she takes minutes and designs promotional materials. When not afflicted by allergies, she currently sings with the Chancel Choir.
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Paulo Reyes
Sexton
610-525-2486 ext. 18
paulo@theredeemer.org
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Paulo Reyes is orignally from Monterry, Mexico. He is a graduate of the State University in Monterrey with a degree in Communication Sciences and Graphic Arts. He relocated to Pennsylvania in 1999 and became an United States citizen. He joined the staff at The Redeemer in November of 2001.
As Sexton at Redeemer, he provides assistance for functions and services and support to staff, clergy and parishioners and oversees the housekeeping staff.
Before coming to Redeemer, he worked as a quality control machine operator for AGS Sea food Co. in salmon packing and cannery in Ketchikan, Alaska and as an assembling electronic operator for MARS Electronic International.
He is an active advocate for the Hispanic Community in Kennett Square, PA for the Migrant Ministries of Chester County.
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Tish Zaleta
Office Coordinator
610-525-2486 ext. 10
tish@theredeemer.org
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Tish joined the staff as the first full-time receptionist in February 1999. In addition to being the first phone contact person, she handles all RSVPs to parish events, organizes all-parish mailings, maintains the database, organizes liturgical ministry schedules and reminders, maintains the parish calendar, communicates with 12-step programs about building usage, and inventories and orders supplies. Before coming to The Redeemer, she worked at Rorer Pharmaceuticals and World Travel.
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